About

Discover just what  makes Tough Love tick

Blending tribal, world-influenced drums and percussion with quirky, acerbic English lyrics, six-piece pop band Tough Love have been described by the Guardian as “the afrobeat Scissor Sisters” and by Flavorpill as “tribal pop ambassadors”.

Their dressed-up live shows are a riot of chanting backing vocals, face paint and Victorian-inspired finery, which might explain why Record of the Day has said that “they look and sound like nothing we have seen in recent times” and why Music Week called the group “brilliant – packed with pop hits and charisma.”

Having supported The Crimea, British Sea Power and Yeasayer, Tough Love are making an impact on audiences in London’s more eccentric and quirky clubs; one gig has seen Dexy’s Midnight Runners singer Kevin Rowland stood in front of the stage, mouth agog, looking quite appalled at the boundless energy coming from Tough Love’s two drummers.

A review from trendy blog Boing Boing called the band “completely kick-ass”, continuing “Tough Love played a show that felt like something from Talking Heads’ Stop Making Sense tour, with funky, rhythm-heavy numbers that I enjoyed from the first song.”

Tough Love’s thirst for the unusual has inspired them to found White Mischief, a regular one-night indoor festival which combines live bands with wild circus and cabaret performances. At its last outing the night sold out the 1000-plus capacity Scala venue in Kings Cross with an assortment of revellers dressed as everything from steampunk airship captains to giant pandas.

Time Out called White Mischief: “The event of the week, the month, the year”.

The band has recorded with producers including Toby Smith (Jamiroquai), Phil Vinall (Elastica, Placebo), Cenzo Townshend (U2, Athlete, etc) and James Lewis (Arctic Monkeys, Wombats, Morning Runner).